What is Alopecia Areata?
Alopecia Areata is a non-scarring inflammatory condition caused by an autoimmune disorder that can lead to patches of hair loss. Alopecia Areata affects around 2% of the UK’s population and can affect men, women and children of any age, gender or nationality.
The condition is often triggered by an emotive situation, which can occur up to three months before any hair loss is noticed. The body’s white blood cells start to attack the cells in hair follicles, causing them to shrink, which slows down hair production. The cause of this behaviour is still unknown, but it is likely to be hereditary and attributed to genetic autoimmunity.
Alopecia Areata can be difficult to adapt to emotionally and, for many people, can cause stress and sadness. Correct treatment should, therefore, address both the physical aspect of the hair loss and the emotional aspect that has triggered and accompanies the knowledge the individual has a patch of hair loss.
